Kolodner named permanent health IT national coordinator

HHS announced that Robert M. Kolodner, MD, is the new head the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) — a post he has maintained since last September when he was named interim national coordinator.

Secretary Mike Leavitt said of the appointment, “Rob's experience, dedication, and enthusiasm have been evident in his work at the Veterans Health Administration and here at HHS since September.”

"I appreciate his ongoing commitment to advance the use of health IT to improve the safety, efficiency, and value of healthcare for consumers and to increase their ability to manage their health, and I look forward to continuing to work closely with him," Leavitt added.

As national coordinator for Health IT at HHS, Kolodner serves as principal advisor to Secretary Leavitt on all health IT initiatives. He also will continue to develop, maintain, and direct the implementation of the strategic plan to guide nationwide adoption of interoperable health IT to reduce medical errors, improve quality, and produce greater value in healthcare, HHS said.

Around the web

Positron, a New York-based nuclear imaging company, will now provide Upbeat Cardiology Solutions with advanced PET/CT systems and services. 

The nuclear imaging isotope shortage of molybdenum-99 may be over now that the sidelined reactor is restarting. ASNC's president says PET and new SPECT technologies helped cardiac imaging labs better weather the storm.

CMS has more than doubled the CCTA payment rate from $175 to $357.13. The move, expected to have a significant impact on the utilization of cardiac CT, received immediate praise from imaging specialists.